Proxmox "VMware import wizard"

wankel · March 29

Most of you are probably aware, but as a heads-up for those who missed it: Proxmox introduced an import wizard for ESXi.

Any experiences? I'm not so fond of commercial software, so never gave VMware a spin and thus lack any testcase.

edit: I managed to botch the poll, have some patience with me....

georgedatacenter · March 30

We are moving from VMware to Virtualizor.

That option that proxmox has released looks interesting, but I haven't done any testing with it.

Neoon · March 30

@georgedatacenter said:
We are moving from VMware to Virtualizor.

That option that proxmox has released looks interesting, but I haven't done any testing with it.

Are you sure you want to move to Virtualizor?

georgedatacenter · March 30

The old nodes we have in VMware are already a headache, for now if it is the closest option we have.

Falzo · March 30

I wrote a bash script for that purpose a few months ago. Nice to see an integrated solution now, but have to read up on it, if and how it might handle IP remapping and such.

somik · March 30

Backup your data, scrap the VM and set it up anew in proxmox. You'll lose all the fat and none of the data.

wankel · March 30

in another time and place, @somik said: So people now a days require to be told that something is sarcasm? Just 15 years back, people would know how to properly use sarcasm and you dont have to tell/flag it so both you and the reader knows it is sarcasm.

Example:

@somik said:
Backup your data, scrap the VM and set it up anew in proxmox. You'll lose all the fat and none of the data.

(courtesy of @somik)

somik · March 30

@wankel said:

in another time and place, @somik said: So people now a days require to be told that something is sarcasm? Just 15 years back, people would know how to properly use sarcasm and you dont have to tell/flag it so both you and the reader knows it is sarcasm.

Example:

@somik said:
Backup your data, scrap the VM and set it up anew in proxmox. You'll lose all the fat and none of the data.

(courtesy of @somik)

This wasn't sarcasm though. It is a real advice I always follow. When it's time to change server, I always backup, wipe, reinstall proxmox, setup VM, and copy back all my data.

host_c · March 30

Hy @wankel

Before folowing our recomandation, take your time and read:

https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Migrate_to_Proxmox_VE

Migration from VMware to proxmox is pretty simple, this is option A:

1- do a backup of the VM in VMware , so if shit hits the fan, you won’t loose it

2- after the backup uninstall VMware guest agent, now this step is a must, and install QEMU-GUEST-AGENT

3- create the vm in proxmox node, same specs, emulation Q35 not FX440, disk type SATA for windows VM, SCSI for Linux and if you run centos 7 you have to use IDE

4- copy the VM drive file from VMware to proxmox, put in in /mnt/pve/tmp for example

5- ssh to proxmox and run :

qm disk import {target VMID} {vmdk file} {target storage}, for example

qm disk import 102 windows10.vmdk local-lvme

6 - go to GUI, and you will see an un-allocated disk image, atach it ( scsi, sata, ide )

Boot, now 80% of the cases this works, if not,

Option B: ( this worked best on sub windows 10 VM's and centos 7 )

This step requires that you have a 'lan' connection between proxmox and vmware!

1- do a backup of the VM in VMware , so if shit hits the fan, you won’t loose it

2- after the backup uninstall VMware guest agent, now this step is a must, and install QEMU-GUEST-AGENT

3- create the vm in proxmox node, same specs, emulation Q35 not FX440, disk tipe sata for windows VM, scsi for Linux and if you run centos 7 you have to use IDE

Boot CLONEZILA on both VM's

https://clonezilla.org/downloads/download.php?branch=stable

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=clonezila+network+cloning#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:01ac8a23,vid:8UGR_RLCptQ,st:0

3- select device to device cloning, the vmware vm is the surce, and on proxmox VM you select destination.

4- wait for things to finish,

We recommend you select a small VM and run some tests before you dive in the Production VM's.

wankel · March 30

Hi HC,

That's quite an in-depth howto,

@host_c said: Before folowing our recomandation, take your time and read:
https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Migrate_to_Proxmox_VE

thanks for the wiki-link as well!

host_c · March 30

@wankel

Sure thing, altho, option B always worked, well 99.9% of the time.

@host_c said: 3- select device to device cloning, the vmware vm is the surce, and on proxmox VM you select destination.

Watch out, not to mix the source and destination , you might end up with a "empty OS " . Do backup always on source.!

rsk · March 30

@georgedatacenter said:
The old nodes we have in VMware are already a headache, for now if it is the closest option we have.

Go for virtfusion and never look back! Forget about virtualizor. That’s my advice

Proxmox "VMware import wizard"

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